12 Mar HALACHICALLY SPEAKING: DRINKING ON PURIM

For some reason,
people think that
drinking is acceptable
at certain times, such
as on Simchas Torah,
at a Shalom Zochor,
at a wedding, and on
Purim.
Many people become
intoxicated by drinking
wine or whiskey on Purim. Is there a
mitzvah to get drunk? What are the reasons
for drinking on Purim? What are the
parameters? Is wine preferred to whiskey?
Does it apply to women? Can one fulfill
the mitzvah while asleep? When should
one drink? These and other issues will be
addressed in this issue. We will also discuss
the halachic sources for drinking too much
wine on Purim and throughout the year.
Introduction – Wine
Wine is associated with many aspects of
Jewish life. Shabbos and all the major Yom
Tovim, including Rosh Hashanah, requires
kiddush with wine. Wine is a drink that
“gladdens the heart.” Wine has medicinal
properties as well.
Wine in the Torah and Chazal
The posuk tells us that Noach planted a
vineyard…and he drank wine, got drunk
and uncovered himself. Lot’s daughters
gave their father wine to drink so that he
would get drunk. Nadav and Avihu are
said to have drunk wine when they offered
their “strange fire” in the Mishkan. The
Medrash says when a person starts drinking
wine he feels innocent as a lamb and as
complacent as a sheep. After he has a few
drinks, he feels as if he is strong like a lion.
When he has gone too far he becomes like
a pig, wallowing in his own filth. When
he becomes drunk he is like a monkey. He
thinks he is smart, witty and clever, when in
reality he is being laughed at by others. The
Gemorah says the tree Adom ate from was
a grapevine, because nothing brings grief to
this world like wine. The Rambam says it is
impossible to serve Hashem with silliness,
lightheadedness, and while being drunk.
One who is drunk is like he is worshipping
avodah zarah. In addition, the Rambam says
that one who gets drunk is a sinner, ugly,
and loses his wisdom. One is not allowed
to enter the Ohel Moed in a drunken state.
The Gemorah says that wine was created for
two purposes, to comfort mourners and to
give the wicked their reward in this world
so that they may get their full punishment in
the World to Come.
On the other hand, the Gemorah says
happiness comes from consuming wine and
meat. The Tana D’bei Eliyahu (Zuta) says

that, “Wine gives pleasure to old people,
makes their hearts happy, refreshes their
souls, and illuminates their eyes.” Wine also
has a positive effect on the brain and the
thinking process. The Gemorah says that old
wine is beneficial for the intestines.
Drinking on Purim
The Gemorah says that one is obligated to
get drunk on Purim until the point that he
does not know the difference between cursed
Haman and bless Mordechai. The Gemorah
also relates the following story: Rabbah and
Rav Zeirah had their Purim seuda together.
Rabbah got drunk and killed Rav Zeirah.
They prayed for Rav Zeirah and he lived.
The next year, when asked to come over for
the seuda, Rav Zeirah did not go because
one cannot rely on a miracle every time.
This seems to be an odd story; should it be
taken literally?
The Maharsha explains that Rabbah did not
literally slit Rav Zeirah’s throat. Rather,
he kept giving Rav Zeirah drinks until
he became sick. Rav Zeirah’s refusal the

next year was to avoid a situation of over-
indulgence which can be fatal. Obviously,

drinking wine is very dangerous if done
without a cheshbon.
Harav Shlomo Zalman zt”l suggests that
Rabbah embarrassed Rav Zeirah, which is
akin to murder.
Halachic Opinions
There are some poskim who maintain that
we do not follow the apparent ruling of
this incident, and one should not get drunk
on Purim. The Meiri says that there is no
mitzvah to get drunk and act in a frivolous
manner on Purim. However, the majority of
poskim do in fact concur with the incident
and maintain that one should drink enough
wine on Purim to cause drunkenness. The
Pri Chadash says that Rav Zeirah should
have replied that he will drink a little without
actually getting drunk. From the fact that he
did not say this we can deduce the halacha
that one should get drunk on Purim and the
story is valid. The Bach says that even the
lenient opinion agrees that one should drink
more than usual on Purim.
Drinking More Than Usual
The Pri Chadash says that in our weak
generation one should follow the lenient
approach and only drink a little more than
usual. This opinion is the opinion of other
poskim as well.
Not Knowing the Difference Between
Cursed Haman and Bless Mordechai
As mentioned above, one should drink
until he cannot tell the difference between
cursed Haman and bless Mordechai. There
are many explanations as to what this

means. The Bach
understands this as a
literal statement, and
other poskim agree.
Others say that this
comment in the
Gemorah should not
be taken literally. One
opinion says that one
should drink to the
point that he cannot
calculate that the
gematria of “cursed is
Haman” (in Hebrew)
is equivalent to “bless Mordechai“(in
Hebrew).
The Taz explains that we have to give thanks
to Hashem for saving us from Haman’s
evil plot. We must also thank Him for the
additional kindness of elevating Mordechai.
We should drink until the point that we
cannot discern between these two acts of
kindness.
The Sefas Emes says one does not have an
obligation to be drunk to the point of not
knowing…. However, one is supposed to
busy himself with party on Purim and as
long as he knows the difference between…
he has to party and after that point he does
not. However, one has fulfilled his drinking
even before he reaches the point where he
does not know….
Harav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt”l says
people think that the miracle of saving the
Jews was great and the fall of Haman was
not a big miracle. Therefore, we drink until
we do not know the difference between
the two and they are both the same great
miracle.
Harav Moshe Shternbuch Shlita says the
following: there are different time periods
in life. Sometimes Haman is on top and
sometimes Haman is on the bottom.
Sometimes our enemies beat us and the
hand of Hahsem is hidden. Sometimes it
is “bless Mordechai” and Hashem’s hand
is visible, so to speak. On Purim we have a
mitzvah to drink to the point that we do not
know the difference between the two stages.
We have to drink to know that all is from
Hashem. This is the point of Purim. Even
if Hashem’s name is not mentioned in the
Megillah, everything is from Hashem.
Drinking More Than Usual –
Falling Asleep
The Rama says one should drink more than
usual and thus fall asleep. This is the opinion
of other poskim as well. However, sleeping
without drinking at all does not accomplish
anything.

Getting Drunk is Not Allowed
The Orchos Chaim (and others) says
drinking to the point of getting drunk is the
greatest aveirah one can do since it causes
giluy arayos, murder, etc. One should only
drink more than he usually does.
Obligation or Mitzvah
Many maintain that there is no obligation to
drink, but if one does so he has fulfilled a
mitzvah. However, some argue that the term
chayiv in the Gemorah and Shulchan Aruch
clearly indicate that it is in fact an obligation.
Therefore, the Aruch Hashulchan says there
is an obligation is to drink, but every person
has the leeway to choose how much he
wishes to drink.
Avoid Drinking
When one drinks to excess, he cannot
perform mitzvos properly. Therefore, one
who knows that by drinking he will not
properly perform the mitzvos of netilas
yadayim, bentching, and mincha or maariv,
it is better than he should not get drunk. One
who wishes to drink should make sure the
mitzvos are accomplished first and then he
can drink.
Reasons to Drink
Why do we drink on Purim? One reason is
offered by the Avudraham (quoted by others
as well). The story of the megillah was
influenced by wine. Vashti was removed
from her role as queen through drinking of
wine. Esther took her place through a party.
So too the fall of Haman was through wine.
Therefore, we drink on Purim to remember
that the miracles happened to the Jews
through wine.
The Chasam Sofer explains that the Jews
in the time of Achashveirosh attended his
seuda and got drunk. Therefore, we have a
mitzvah to drink to rectify the aveirah which
was committed at that time,
Harav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt’l says
that Purim was established during the time
of golus and it is not possible to be joyous
while we are in golus. Therefore, we drink
to forget about the fact that we are in golus
and then we can be joyous properly.